Manchester United might have to rebuild around two unpopular players

Just as the Bible details that Jesus Christ rose from the dead at Easter, Manchester United seem to do the opposite at this time of year.

Against Everton on Easter Sunday in 2019, United were smashed more easily than a chocolate egg in 4-0 defeat, a nadir that, according to then manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, should never be repeated. The scoreline wasn't quite as bad a week away from Easter in 2022, but Ralf Rangnick struck a similar chord with an admittance that United were far from good enough at Goodison Park and need to change.

That day three years ago was memorable for how easily United's players surrendered and the same was true on Saturday. Afterwards in 2019, Solskjaer promised a reset, which wasn't truly followed through by the club in the summer. This time, United must rebuild properly.

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It was probably a morsel of injury news delivered by Rangnick that most clearly exposed the current state of the United squad ahead of such a rebuild. He'd been forced to take Fred off after 36 minutes and replaced him with Paul Pogba, and was asked about the Brazilian's fitness after the game.

Rangnick said: "Fred had some muscular problems on his hip flexor. We already are without [Scott] McTominay. Without both defensive midfielders it isn't good for us."

Rangnick might as well said United don't have any midfielders whatsoever. Without Fred — undoubtedly United's most effective outfielder in the past few weeks — and McTominay, his options boil down to an ageing Nemanja Matic and Pogba, who has long looked distracted ahead of his inevitable summer exit.

Next season might see Donny van de Beek reintegrated into the squad, especially if his former